SURPRISE, Ariz.—The waiting game for Alex Gordon to have that breakthrough season has entered its fourth spring training for the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals selected Gordon second overall in the 2005 draft out of Nebraska, where he hit .372 as a junior and was the college player of the year. He hit .325 with 29 home runs and 101 RBIs in 2006 with Double-A Wichita and was named the minor league player of the year.
Gordon was anointed the next George Brett and was the Royals’ starting third baseman on opening day in 2007. Gordon, however, has struggled in the majors and spent most of last season on the disabled list after hip surgery on April 17.
Gordon hit .232 with six home runs and 22 RBIs in 49 games. He was swinging so poorly in August the Royals sent him to the minors. Gordon was recalled in September and finished strong, homering in his final two games and hitting .279 with 11 RBIs in 20 games.
“When people refer to last year, I just throw it out,” manager Trey Hillman said Wednesday. “I know how physically tough he is and I could see how much pain he was in. He’s coming off major surgery. I know he came back last year. I know he’s a great worker and everybody is waiting for him to breakout so to speak.”
Hillman said Gordon has no physical restrictions in spring training.
“The hip’s healthy,” Gordon said. “I’m no longer rehabbing it. I did a lot of work in the offseason to get ready for spring training. Any time you have major surgery, you’re going to have question marks there about what’s going on. How are you going to feel afterward? I think it was a success, a good surgery. I came out of it healthy and feeling better.”
Gordon homered in his first at-bat last season, but his hip was bothering him.
“I felt it opening day before the game,” he said. “It got worse and worse. I went to see a specialist and he told me you’re going to end up hurting it more if you keep playing. It was really a tough decision. It took me a long time to figure out what I wanted to do.
“I think I made the right decision. I know it’s a down season, but I think the surgery was much needed. Sitting 10 weeks doing nothing and on the bed watching the team play was very frustrating and then trying to get right back into it was tough. Last year is behind me.”
Hillman said a healthy Gordon could be a “major force” in the middle of the lineup.
“He’s going to get the ball out of the ball park, but he’s also going to be a guy that you look to do similar to what Billy (Butler) did for us in our ball park, hit a lot of doubles,” Hillman said. “I know that’s asking a lot.”
Butler hit .301 with 51 doubles and 21 home runs last season.
If Gordon, a career .250 hitter with 300 strikeouts in 1,200 at-bats, struggles or is injured, the Royals have Josh Fields to step in and play third. Fields, who hit 23 home runs as a rookie in 2007, was acquired in a November trade with the White Sox.
“I think because of the injury last year and because of his history as being the primary third baseman the past 2 1/2 to three years, I would put Gordon’s name probably at the top of the list there,” Hillman said. “But I’m not going to discount Josh Fields’ ability and count him out of the mix there either.
“Is Alex going to start at third base Opening Day? I don’t know how it’s going to fall. I think they are both going to be impactful players for our major league team.”
Gordon does not shy away from competition from Fields.
“Any time you’re in the big leagues, there is going to be competition,” Gordon said. “So if that’s your main worry, you probably shouldn’t be here. Having Josh here is going to make us a better team. We’re happy to have him.”
Notes: Cy Young Award winner RHP Zack Greinke threw 29 pitches in batting practice with few balls hit hard off him. 2B Alberto Callaspo took rookie RHP Aaron Crow, the Royals 2009 first-round pick, deep.
